DISH Satellite Ready to Fly

[Gregg Lengling]

EchoStar's next satellite, containing the first commercial Ka-Band payload for use over the United States, is slated for launch later this week.

The EchoStar IX spacecraft is set to fly Thursday, Aug. 7, at 11:31 p.m. EST. The satellite will launch from a floating platform at the equator aboard a Sea Launch rocket.

EchoStar said the Ka-Band portion of the satellite will be utilized to deliver future broadband initiatives. The satellite payload also includes Ku-Band fixed satellite service (FSS) transponders that will support EchoStar's DISH Network satellite TV service.

The satellite will operate at the company's 121-degree orbital location.

An additional C-Band payload on the satellite is owned and operated by Loral Skynet, and will operate as Telstar 13.